Damian Ross '23 Recruiting Profile

Hi, my name is Damian Ross and I'm seeking to play for a basketball program with a long standing tradition of success and stability that will enable me to pursue a career in business with a focus on accounting. 

When I started paying basketball in 2nd grade...I wasn't very good. I was short, and as I got a little older, it got worse, I got a little rounder. But that didn't stop me. My parents put a hoop in the yard and I would practice for hours on end rain, snow, heat...it didn't matter. When I wasn't doing that I was on our trampoline where I taught myself how to do a back flip. It was here I believe I developed my hops. 

In seventh grade my body started to catch up to my desire to get better. In fact I think I willed myself to grow. I went from under 5 feet to 5 foot 9 (and passed my dad up!) I went from getting garbage time to starting on the championship travel team. 

In high school, it started again. I earned a starting spot on the freshman team then COVID hit, which crushed my chances of playing varsity as a sophomore....which forces us to start the recruiting process late. I didn't want to put out any non-varsity film (my dad still gets on me for that). COVID over, my junior year was my breakout year. I was fortunate enough to earn first team all league. 

And this year I'm honored to be one of our team's captains. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is...nothing ever came easy to me. I learned from the beginning that I had to grind earn everything I have. I wasn't born great, I grew into it. Now what you get is kid who was raised to work hard. I wasn't a natural. My athletic skills grew into my desire to play this incredible sport. 

Thank you for taking the time to view my profile. 

Damian

PS. I should mention that I'm a true senior (I turn 18 in March) and I just started playing basketball year round my senior year. Before then I was playing football, so I still have a lot of room to grow.